Around 500 Baloch rebel militants on Friday surrendered to government as Islamabad pursues its development agenda linked to the ambitious China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the south-west province. Some 487 militants from four Baloch rebel organisations, including at least eight senior commanders, laid down their arms at an official ceremony in Quetta city. The militants pledged their allegiance to the state of Pakistan at the ceremony, which was also attended by the provincial chief minister.
A greater push towards peace and development by authorities, including starting work on roads and infrastructure under the Chinese-assisted CPEC project - which connects Balochistan's deep sea port Gwadar to China - has reduced the violence considerably.